Book Review: The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization
| Author | Michael MacLeod |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/00207020221143281 |
| Published date | 01 September 2022 |
| Date | 01 September 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Book Reviews |
Narratives based solely on inclusivity, technical solutions, and information can not win
hearts and minds. Rather, narratives framed in terms of their impact on individual lives are
more effective, especially when they refer to existential threats (191).
Among many others, one of the crucial theoretical contributions of Narlikar’s book
is the relationship between norms, narratives, and political change. She asserts that “if
actors push narratives framed as a challenge to existing norms, it is likely that the
narratives will encounter more resistance”(192). The movement #MeToo owes its
success partly to the fact that it refers to a norm already legitimized,
3
equality of men
and women. Chapter 2 showed that, in contrast, more radical demands like the New
International Economic Order (NIEO) resulted in few concrete gains.
Finally, Narlikar’s book also gives crucial insights into the broader question of the
reform of international organizations (IOs) regarding procedural vs. performance-
based debates.
4
For instance, while analyzing trade negotiations in the WTO, the author
demonstrates that procedural amendments in the functioning of IOs do not necessarily
guarantee effectiveness of outcomes. The poverty narrative has given procedural power
to the powerless in the WTO by giving considerable voice to developing countries
including Brazil, India, and China at the high table of consensus-building. However, the
resulting outcomes have not left developing countries better off since new memb ers use
their veto right resulting in a deadlocked WTO (178). Those findings might provide
important insights for further studies on other IOs, like that of UNSC reform.
Narlikar has elegantly connected such a wide range of topics in a relatively succinct
book. This rich and truly engaging text will make for fascin ating reading for a range of
readers. Those interested in international political economy will find it a substantive
contribution that provides a highly original perspective. Those interested in global gov-
ernance will also find a unique appeal as it nicely explains the interplay between actors on
the intersection of norms, institutions, and political change. In brief, Amrita Narlikar’sbook
is an absolute delight to read and opens up the possibility for future research and discussion.
Peter Zeihan
The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization
New York: HarperCollins, 2022. 539 pp. $43.50 (cloth)
ISBN: 978-0-06-323047-7
Reviewed by: Michael MacLeod (michael.macleod@stmu.ca), St Mary’s University, Calgary,
Alberta, Canada
DOI: 10.1177/00207020221143281
3. Richard Price defines this strategy as “grafting”in his article, “Reversing the gun sights: Transnational
civil society targets land mines,”International Organization 52, no. 3 (1998): 613–644.
4. See, for instance, Martin Binder and Monika Heupel, “Rising powers, UN Security Council reform, and
the failure of rhetorical coercion,”Global Policy 11, no. S3 (2020): 93–103.
Book Reviews 539
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